“There’s a lot of depth,” DeBoer said. “There’s a lot of NHL players in our minds and there’s going to be some great competition to see who separates themselves for jobs. This will be a very competitive camp, as competitive as any I’ve been to here.”

Both the coaching staff and prospects benefit from this lead-up to the full training camp.

“I think it’s great,” the coach said. “I think it’s great for our staff. We haven’t run a practice in four or five months so it’s nice for our staff to get out especially with [new assistant coach] Mike Foligno here. We’ve got a new member there to kind of get some cohesiveness and get the kinks out with the young guys before the full camp starts.

“I think for the young guys to be able to work with the NHL staff and have the luxury of the D working with Scott Stevens, the forwards working with Dave Barr and Mike Foligno – you’re talking thousands of games of NHL experience there. I think it’s invaluable.”

Sergei Brylin named Albany assistant coach

Sergei Brylin won three Stanley Cups with the Devils and hopes to bring that experience to his new role as an assistant coach with the Devils’ AHL affiliate in Albany. The move was announced on Tuesday.

“We talked with Lou and tried to see what I’m going to do next year,” said Brylin. “All of a sudden, coaching came up. I said, ‘Yeah I wouldn’t mind to try it and see what it’s like.’ He asked me if I’m willing to go to Albany, I said yes.”